An object of the present invention is to provide a Group III nitride semiconductor element which comprises a thick AlGaN layer exhibiting high crystallinity and containing no cracks, and which does not include a thick GaN layer (which generally serves as a light-absorbing layer in an ultraviolet LED).The inventive Group III nitride semiconductor element comprises a substrate; a first nitride semiconductor layer composed of AlN which is provided on the substrate; a second nitride semiconductor layer composed of Alx1Ga1-x1N (0≦x1≦0.1) which is provided on the first nitride semiconductor layer; and a third nitride semiconductor layer composed of Alx2Ga1-x2N (0